"The Gift": Analysis of "The Gift" Arc of ABC-TV's Port Charles
(c) Alison Armstrong
(c) Alison Armstrong
An analysis of the "The Gift" episodes of the show Port Charles, formerly of ABC-TV. This site will focus on the scenes featuring the vampire character Caleb
Morley/Stephen Clay (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley/Stephen Clay and any other characters relating to Port Charles are
the property of ABC and their creators. This is a fan-run site and is not an official site, nor is it affiliated in any way with ABC, Port Charles, or the actors
portraying any of the Port Charles characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The writings on this site are copyrighted by the author, Alison
Armstrong, and may not be reproduced without the author's express permission.
Morley/Stephen Clay (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley/Stephen Clay and any other characters relating to Port Charles are
the property of ABC and their creators. This is a fan-run site and is not an official site, nor is it affiliated in any way with ABC, Port Charles, or the actors
portraying any of the Port Charles characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The writings on this site are copyrighted by the author, Alison
Armstrong, and may not be reproduced without the author's express permission.
"The Gift" #29 (cont.)
“No, you foolish, foolish girl,” he sighs wearily. “He’s not coming back. Don’t you ever get tired of making
the same mistake over and over and over? . . . Look around all you want. He ain’t coming back.”
“No, you foolish, foolish girl,” he sighs wearily. “He’s not coming back. Don’t you ever get tired of making
the same mistake over and over and over? . . . Look around all you want. He ain’t coming back.”
Snappies of "The Gift" scenes taken by
A. Armstrong
A. Armstrong
“Why? I don’t understand,” she replies, looking around as if expecting Rafe to suddenly emerge from beneath a
bale of straw. “I was touching the ring when I made it, so why didn’t it work?”
“You people can’t be trusted,” Caleb mutters.
“You people, who?” Alison asks as Caleb vanishes. “Who can’t be trusted?”
Reappearing outside of the barn, Caleb reflects on the answer to Alison’s question. It is not just Alison and Rafe
who can’t be trusted. Far worse, far more painful is the realization that he can’t trust the woman he has chosen
as his for all eternity, his deceitful beloved Olivia. He re-experiences the touch of her hands on his skin as she
massaged him, the gentle, nearly imperceptible pull on his finger as she removed his ring and then replaced it
with the fake.
bale of straw. “I was touching the ring when I made it, so why didn’t it work?”
“You people can’t be trusted,” Caleb mutters.
“You people, who?” Alison asks as Caleb vanishes. “Who can’t be trusted?”
Reappearing outside of the barn, Caleb reflects on the answer to Alison’s question. It is not just Alison and Rafe
who can’t be trusted. Far worse, far more painful is the realization that he can’t trust the woman he has chosen
as his for all eternity, his deceitful beloved Olivia. He re-experiences the touch of her hands on his skin as she
massaged him, the gentle, nearly imperceptible pull on his finger as she removed his ring and then replaced it
with the fake.
“Just be patient,” he whispers to himself. A reminder to be patient and wait for Livvie to confess? Or a vow to
be patient in exacting his revenge against her and all of the other people unworthy of trust?
Back in “Tainted Love,” beginning his courtship of Livvie, Caleb had vowed to be patient. He had struggled to
keep that vow yet could not resist the temptation to use trickery and his seductive power to manipulate her
emotions. Nevertheless, Livvie’s love for him proved to be genuine, deepening and intensifying. Now, it is she
who is jeopardizing their relationship by trickery, and he vows patience once again. Patience to test, patience to
destroy, patience to let the wheels of karma do as they must—he calls upon patience, grim and stoic, to
confront the destiny already put in motion.
be patient in exacting his revenge against her and all of the other people unworthy of trust?
Back in “Tainted Love,” beginning his courtship of Livvie, Caleb had vowed to be patient. He had struggled to
keep that vow yet could not resist the temptation to use trickery and his seductive power to manipulate her
emotions. Nevertheless, Livvie’s love for him proved to be genuine, deepening and intensifying. Now, it is she
who is jeopardizing their relationship by trickery, and he vows patience once again. Patience to test, patience to
destroy, patience to let the wheels of karma do as they must—he calls upon patience, grim and stoic, to
confront the destiny already put in motion.